Clothespin



Jan. 1, 1929.

-' J. R., NOLAN I GLOTHESPIN Patented Jan. 1, 1929.

JOHN R. NOLAN, or new YORK, 1v. Y.

orornnsrm.

Application filed March'2 8, 1927. Serial No. 1 78587. 7

This invention relates to wooden clothespins, its principal object beingto reinforce a forked clothes-pin in a simple, inexpensive and efficientmanner whereby the splitting or breaking of the pin is prevented'whenthe legs thereof are subjected to excessive spreading strain.

The invention consists, primarily, in the combination with aclothes-pin, of a reinforcing device therefor comprising a ring of wireencircling the pin adjacent the junction of the legs and having extendedend portions tightly twisted together and positionedin the space betweenthe legs in such a manner that an excessive spreading strain on the legsof the pin tends to increase the locking effect of the inwardly-benttwisted portions of the wire.

The invention also comprises features of construction and combinationsof parts which together with the method of reinforcing the clothes-pin,will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a clothes-pin, enlarged,embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the pin, as on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a partial view of a clothes-pin without the reinforcingdevice.

The clothes-pin illustrated comprises a wooden body 5 having integraldepending legs 6 spaced apart as usual to afford a pair of yieldinggripping members, which members are preferably provided adjacent thecrotch with a peripheral bead 7.

Encircling the pin, immediately above the bead, i. e., at the side ofthe bead nearer the head of the pin, is a ring, 8, of wire havingextended end portions which are tightly tw1sted together, as at 9, andbent hard into the space between the legs so as to abut against thecrotch of the latter the untwisted portions of the wire which span thespace and merge with the inwardly-bent twisted portions, thus bearingagainst the opposing lateral corners of the legs. This wire ring is thusfirmly held in position on the pin'adj acent the crotch since the bead 7serves as a permanent stop to prevent downward movement, and the twistedportion abutting against the opposing crotch prevents upwarddisplacement of the ring, and this irrespective of the contraction andexpansion of the wood incident to its exposure to varying weatherconditions while the'pin is in service on a clothes-line.

From the foregoing described simple construction it will be seen thatthe clothes-pin is effectually reinforced and the splitting there of ator in the vicinity of the crotch is prevented, without impairing thelateral flexiblhty of the legs, thus prolonging the lifeof the pin.

It will also be seen that the tight twisting and forcible inward bendingof the wire causes the ring to bite into the opposing corners 10 of thelegs, thus contributing to the stability of the device. Again,relatively fine wire can be used for the reinforcing ring, since thetwisting together ofthe end extensions of the wire and their inwardbending into the space between the legs not only ensures its tightrelation to the outer surface of the wood, but it also provides a stifland rigid retaining member whereof the inwardly bent or flexed basalportion at its juncture with the converging portions of the wireeffectually resist spreading strains applied to the legs of theclothes-pin, thereby preventing the separation of the twisted extensionsand obviating liability of splitting the pin above the crotch. Moreover,a relatively short piece of wire, slightly exceeding the circumferenceof the body of the pin, is required, thus minimizing the cost in largeproduction.

If desired, the bead 7 may be omitted; or as a substitute for the beadan annular groove or arcuate grooves for the reception of the ring maybe formed in the pin, without departure from my invention.

I claim- 1. The combination with a wooden clothespin consisting of abody having spaced depending legs, of a reinforcing wire closelyencircling the pin adjacent the crotch of the legs and having extendedend portions tightly twisted together at the space between the legs andbent over into said space to extend transversely of the pin, theuntwisted portions of the wire which span the space between the legs andmerge in the inwardly-bent twisted portions, bearing against theopposing lateral corners of the legs and being permanently lockedtogether intermediate the legs by the said inwardly-bent twistedportions.

2. The combination with a wooden clothespin consisting of a body havingspaced depending legs and a peripheral retaining portion adjacent thecrotch of the legs of a reinforcing wire closely encircling the pin inco-operative relation to the said retaining portion and having extendedend portions tightly twisted together at the space between the legs andbent over into said space to extend trans versely of the pin theuntwisted portions of the wire which span the space between the legs andmerge in the inwardly-bent twisted portions, bearing against theopposing lateral corners of the legs and being permanent-1y lockedtogether intermediate the legs by the said inwardly-bent twistedportions.

3. The combination with a wooden clothes pin consisting of a body havingspaced depending legs and a peripheral bead formed adjacent the junctionof the legs, of a reinforcing wire encircling the pin at the side of thebead nearer the head of the clothes-pin and having extended end portionstightly twisted together at the space between the legs and bent overinto said space to extend transversely of the pin, the untwistedportions of the wire which span the space between the legs and merge inthe inwardlybent twisted portions, bearing against the opposing lateralcorners of the legs and being permanently locked together intermediatethe legs by the said inwardly-bent twisted portions.

4. A method 0t reinforcing bifurcated V clothes-pins, comprising bendinga suitable length of wire around the pin adjacent the crotch to providea ring having outwardly extending end portions at the space between thelegs, tightly twisting together the said outwardly extending endportions to cause the encircling wire to grip the pin, and then bendingthe twisted portion of the wire into the space between the legs of thepin whereby the untwisted portions of the wire which span the spacebetween the legs and merge in the inwardly-bent twisted portions, bearagainst the opposing lateral corners of the legs and are permanentlylocked together intermediate the legs by the said inwardly-bent twistedportions.

Signed at New York in the county and State of New York this 25th day ofMarch, A. D. 1927.

JOHN R. NOLAN.

